Your FAA Medical: What to Bring and How to Prepare
August 1, 2026 · By Dr. Sam Fereidouni, MD, MHSA · Aviation Medicine
Every year I see pilots lose time - and occasionally a checkride slot - over paperwork that takes ten minutes to prepare. As an FAA-designated Senior Aviation Medical Examiner and a pilot myself, here is exactly what I want you to walk in with.
Start with MedXPress - before anything else
The FAA requires every applicant to complete the application online at medxpress.faa.gov before the exam. When you finish, you'll receive a confirmation number. Without that number, your AME cannot start your exam. Complete it a few days early, not in the parking lot - the questions about medical history, medications, and prior visits deserve careful answers, because inconsistencies between applications follow you.
Bring these five things
Your MedXPress confirmation number; a government photo ID; the glasses or contacts you actually fly with; a complete list of medications and doses, including over-the-counter and supplements; and documentation for any condition you've reported before - status reports, test results, or your CACI worksheet items if applicable.
If you have a medical condition, call before you book
Many conditions that pilots assume are disqualifying are handled routinely under the FAA's CACI (Conditions AMEs Can Issue) program - well-controlled hypertension, asthma, hypothyroidism, and others. The difference between a same-day issuance and a months-long deferral is usually preparation: arriving with the right documentation. If you have a condition on your record, call our office first and we'll tell you exactly what paperwork to gather so your exam ends with a certificate in hand.
The night before
Sleep normally, hydrate, and go easy on caffeine - it nudges blood pressure. If you use glasses for distance or reading, bring both pairs. And bring your logbook question honestly: the exam is not an obstacle course, it's a safety system that we navigate together.
Download the printable pre-exam checklist (PDF)
Dr. Fereidouni performs Class 1, 2, and 3 FAA medical exams at Aveon Health in Scottsdale, typically within the week. He has practiced since 2004 and is a private pilot.